Back to 1 Samuel 2

1 Samuel 2:6-9

“Yahweh kills and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol and brings up.

Yahweh makes poor and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up.

He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to make them sit with princes and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s. He has set the world on them.

He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Read all of 1 Samuel 2 →

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    “Yahweh kills and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol and brings up.

    Yahweh makes poor and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up.

    He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to make them sit with princes and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s. He has set the world on them.

    He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength.

  • KJV King James Version

    The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

    The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

    He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them.

    He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

Show all 3 translations
  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    The LORD killeth, and maketh alive; He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

    The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich; He bringeth low, He also lifteth up.

    He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth up the needy from the dung-hill, to make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and He hath set the world upon them.

    He will keep the feet of His holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for not by strength shall man prevail.

View more translations →

Examined in Scripture Analysis

Science (1)

Historical claims about the natural world, weighed against the scientific record.

Explore Science →

Contradictions (1)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • What is the earth set upon?

Explore Contradictions →

Cross-references (70)

  • Psalms 113:7-8 (v8) He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap, that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his…
  • Deuteronomy 32:39 (v6) “See now that I myself am he. There is no god with me. I kill and I make alive. I wound and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of…
  • Psalms 75:7 (v7) But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another.
  • Daniel 2:48 (v8) Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief…
  • Isaiah 26:19 (v6) Your dead shall live. My dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the…
Show all 70 cross-references
  • Job 5:11 (v7) so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety.
  • Psalms 91:11-12 (v9) For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash…
  • Psalms 121:3 (v9) He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.
  • James 2:5 (v8) Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he…
  • Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (v7) and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for…
  • Psalms 33:16-17 (v9) There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety,…
  • Daniel 6:3 (v8) Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king…
  • 1 Samuel 15:17 (v8) Samuel said, “Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over…
  • Ecclesiastes 4:14 (v8) For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
  • Revelation 1:6 (v8) and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
  • 2 Samuel 7:8 (v8) Now therefore tell my servant David this, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince…
  • Job 1:21 (v7) He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s…
  • James 4:10 (v7) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.
  • 1 Peter 1:5 (v9) who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
  • Revelation 5:10 (v8) and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on the earth.”
  • Revelation 22:5 (v8) There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
  • Job 42:10-12 (v8) Yahweh turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there to him…
  • Luke 1:51-52 (v8) He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down princes from their…
  • Revelation 3:21 (v8) He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.
  • Genesis 41:14 (v8) Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in…
  • 2 Kings 5:7 (v6) When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes, and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me…
  • Job 5:18 (v6) For he wounds and binds up. He injures and his hands make whole.
  • Job 5:24 (v9) You will know that your tent is in peace. You will visit your fold, and will miss nothing.
  • Job 36:6-7 (v8) He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted. He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with…
  • Job 38:4-6 (v8) “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who determined its measures, if you know? Or…
  • Psalms 24:2 (v8) For he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods.
  • Psalms 37:28 (v9) For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
  • Psalms 94:18 (v9) When I said, “My foot is slipping!” Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up.
  • Psalms 97:10 (v9) You who love Yahweh, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
  • Psalms 102:25 (v8) Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
  • Psalms 104:5 (v8) He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever.
  • Jonah 2:2-6 (v6) He said, “I called because of my affliction to Yahweh. He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried. You heard my voice. For you threw…
  • Zechariah 4:6 (v9) Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is Yahweh’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’…
  • Hebrews 1:3 (v8) His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had…
  • Revelation 1:18 (v6) and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
  • Genesis 41:40 (v8) You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.”
  • Deuteronomy 33:3 (v9) Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words.
  • Job 2:8 (v8) He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes.
  • John 5:25-29 (v6) Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. For as…
  • Daniel 4:17 (v8) “ ‘The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that…
  • Hosea 6:1-2 (v6) “Come! Let’s return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds. After…
  • John 11:25 (v6) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
  • James 1:9-10 (v7) But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in…
  • 1 Samuel 20:3 (v6) David swore moreover, and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know this,…
  • Psalms 37:23-24 (v9) A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his…
  • Psalms 102:10 (v7) because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away.
  • Psalms 116:3 (v6) The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow.
  • Psalms 121:8 (v9) Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more.
  • Proverbs 16:9 (v9) A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.
  • Isaiah 2:12 (v7) For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and arrogant, and for all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low:
  • Matthew 12:40 (v6) For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart…
  • 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 (v6) Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,…
  • Psalms 68:20 (v6) God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
  • Proverbs 3:26 (v9) for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
  • Ecclesiastes 9:11 (v9) I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet…
  • Zephaniah 1:15 (v9) That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and…
  • Matthew 8:12 (v9) but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
  • 2 Peter 2:17 (v9) These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
  • 1 Samuel 17:49-50 (v9) David put his hand in his bag, took a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and…
  • Psalms 121:5 (v9) Yahweh is your keeper. Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.
  • Proverbs 2:8 (v9) that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:17 (v9) All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.
  • Jeremiah 9:23 (v9) Yahweh says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his…
  • Jude 1:1 (v9) Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
  • Jude 1:3 (v9) Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend…

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v8 He prefereth to honor, and putteth down according to…

He prefereth to honor, and putteth down according to his own will, though man’s judgment be contrary.

Therefore he may dispose all things according to his will.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv6–9 1Sa 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 Killeth, and maketh alive; either,
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv6–9 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive,.... Which is true…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 Killeth - The same person whom he first killeth,…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv6–9 Verse 6. The Lord killeth] God is the arbiter…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 1Sa 2:6-7. The Lord killeth and maketh alive —…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv6–9 Hell, (infernos,) "the lower regions." God calls us out…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv6, 8 he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up--that…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 6. Kills and makes alive — In his hand…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 6. the grave] The Heb. word Sheol, variously rendered…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9 (6) The Lord killeth, and maketh alive.—Death too and…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v9 The feet of his saints. The Hebrews written text…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv6–9 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v6 Heb. "Sheol," (See Scofield "Hab 2:5").
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6, 8, 9 Connecting Statement:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv7–8 2:7-8 Cp. Ps 113:7-9.
Share